Red Wing shoe Thread

[Scribblemyname]

I think quite a few would have seen me posting this as well. I strongly recommend getting your first pair from physical store, get the right advice on the sizing and wear it before putting your money in. IMO, its not about getting the best value for money, but rather getting a pair of boots to accompany you down your life. I will recommend you to visit the Red Wing store at Orchard gate way. If Han is around and there is not customer around, I believe he will be very happy to sit down and teach you all you need to know about the boots. A good (and real) pair of Red Wing will last you very very long.

Exactly ! But some people feel that just because we recommend local we must have some "freebies" from them.

 

[llx384]

Which website is the cheapest to get a pair of red wings? Looking to get my second pair and eyeing an IR. Any help to point to the direction of a website to get a cheap pai?

I agree, if you do not know your size and the fit of the boots. go try it out at the shop. That's the logical thing to do. However, you don't need to buy it just because you tried it. You can get all the "service" and advice you want from the shops, but you still have a choice to buy it elsewhere.

Amazon.com, if they have it in stock, and if the fashion newsletter discount (20%) is still available, you'll save about 40% compared to local prices. Nuff said.

 

[xReTaLiaToR]

My latest purchase. IR 6" Copper

 

[Lew_Lian]

hi Scribblemyname, do you have any experience with using saphir's renovateur on your red wings?

Weekends or off days?

Honestly, I won't suggest red wing Mink Oil because it contains silicon. Not that it is really bad but I prefer not to deprive my leather from "breathing" properly.

I would recommend either their All Natural Leather conditioner or Boot oil.

The Leather conditioner provides more water resistance due to beeswax and is easier to apply evenly with a brush or soft cloth.

Boot oil allows faster absorption imo due to liquid form but is harder to apply evenly hence you might have uneven darkening esp when you first time learn to apply. It also make your boots water resistance due to the mink oil content but less compared to the conditioner.

Personally I'm using their all natural boot oil .

 

[Scribblemyname]

hi Scribblemyname, do you have any experience with using saphir's renovateur on your red wings?

I've used once on my IR from my friend. Very nice product but expensive! I would say it is one of the best conditioner out there. It barely change the colour of the boots after the condition is dried up which is great for people who wants to keep their boots are certain colour but it can darken a little bit for light leather after all it contains mink oil .

I would recommend this for dress shoe more though! Red wing don't need so much "pamper"

 

[Lew_Lian]

thanks for your reply and advice Scribblemyname! will buy and try when it's back in stock!

 

[Bumblebee Man]

Guys I got a huge ink patch on my red wing any idea how to remove it?

 

[Scribblemyname]

^ bring to red wing store to ask would be the best option I feel. Removing ink stains can lighten/damage the leather surrounding if the method use is too harsh.

 

[Bumblebee Man]

I just brought it to Keyshoe and they told me can't remove, only way is to dye it

 

[Scribblemyname]

I just brought it to Keyshoe and they told me can't remove, only way is to dye it

is it really that bad of staining? a pic will be great

 

[kazuki666]

I just brought it to Keyshoe and they told me can't remove, only way is to dye it

Bring to Red Wing at orchard gateway bah. Hans is really very knowledgeable and friendly. With his experience in sneakers and boots, he probably may have an answer for u.

But just curious though. U have a picture of the stain?

 

[contigo]

Is anyone using Lexol Neatsfoot NF on their leather? Care to comment on its claim on not darkening leather? I just acquired a pair of RW 8140 and would like to preserve its colour as much as possible. Cheers.

 

[devintageplace]

Hi, Anyone used saphir renovateur on your 875? My 875 became damn sticky after applying the LP. Thinking of a change.

 

[voltshin]

Hi, Anyone used saphir renovateur on your 875? My 875 became damn sticky after applying the LP. Thinking of a change.

used before. it will make your red wing look a little shinning.
the colour of the leather will turn too.

LP is better.. just wipe it off after a day.

 

[Scribblemyname]

used before. it will make your red wing look a little shinning.
the colour of the leather will turn too.

LP is better.. just wipe it off after a day.

LP is not really any better compare to any other reputable brands in terms of conditioning. It really only does what it advertise, protect against harsh condition which 99% of us here will never ever put our boots through. In fact, LP affect the colour depth of the boots more than saphir reno so if one is looking to maintain the colour as much as possible, saphir is great but expensive choice nonetheless.

I won't recommend LP over any reputable conditioner as all are doing their purpose but LP is really not needed for our urban area and it does come with some cons. Simple conditioning will suffice for most people here.

 

[voltshin]

perhaps i should clarify better.
LP is better in term of making your boots look like a pair of boots... not some dress shoe.

 

[patryn33]

Color of boots are meant to change and age nicely over time.
Lots of ppl are so concern with color.
Water is the biggest enemy, in the states here it's water and salt. Not as harsh as firefighters but still damaging over time.
For me let work boots be work boots.

Just found some red wing boots at Nordstrom rack going for us$199. The suede one at us$140.

 

[Scribblemyname]

Any product with mink oil are already making your boots able to resist most heavy rain you probably will be able to stand under. Leather itself are naturally water resistance to begin with and by conditioning it helps maintaining it. And water does not make your leather spoil instantly, it makes it DRY after going through rain and proper conditioning would be more than enough to keep your leather going strong again.

Leather does age and change colour over time. Conditioning will change the colour of the leather, no doubt but LP don't just darken the colour but flatten and dull the colour of the boots when use over period of time. There are a whole debate on reddit quite some time ago and it is really an interesting read. Although I feel the writer have over exaggerate certain stuff but to some degree there are certain important points to take note.

On Obenauf

and LP or whatever conditioner you put will not make your boots look more like a boots because it is what you do with it not what you put on it.

LP is a great product, but not needed by most of us here for sure. One more thing is "baby" your boots does not mean I can't get the trashed look with sick patina. In my terms of "baby" a pair of boots means I choose product suitable for boots, making sure the leather are conditioned, periodically cleans it so dirt don't clog the leather and and have problems that might make my boots be permanently damaged is quickly rectify. And I think people who use LP and not expose to harsh condition are "babying" their work boots more.

Though I never feel that any of the lifestyle heritage range are work boots, and tbh they probably fail the safety test for work boots because they are NOT a true work boots to begin with. However, their good quality leather and strong stitching does make it possible to go through rough and harsh terrain.

I do agree saphir is not really needed but if they can afford it and wants the best for their boots then go ahead ! It is an awesome product anyway, definitely better than LP in my books.

JFYI, I used LP in the past because I felt the need to "protect" my boots but realize the colour is dull and flat after using it twice! Switch over to Red wings all natural boot oil and never looked back.

 

[patryn33]

I used saphir and tarrago for my dress shoes, no much diff. For like < 50% improvement for like 2-3x the cost.

Every one knows water does not destroy leather instantly. But a good soak in the heavy rain for few hours not going to be much resistance.

Work boots != safety boots. All safety boots are work boots. Logic is like square and rectangle

Just buy and use what u feel most comfortable. It's not my boots no need to lose sleep over something like that. Lol

 

[Scribblemyname]

LP won't resist that much either if you are going to stand under the torrential rain for few hours. Mink oil does repel water to certain degree and there are other leather dressing that contains beeswax too and cheaper price which offer pretty similar protection from water compared to LP. As you mention the cost, LP isn't that cheap either since it offer 0% improvement in cosmetic with several downside of it and giving me almost 0% extra protection that I required why would I spend that extra money on it? But I do agree saphir is overkill since it isn't a dress boots.

My point is the red wings most of us buy are not even work boots to begin with. They are durable but definitely does not offer any to be classified as work boots. If your logic is that as long I wear to work they are work boots, then all dress shoe are work shoe because I wear them to work! Anyway they are categorized under lifestyle heritage boots. You can hover over their work boots section if that interest you. Link: Work Boots and Shoes - Shoe Finder - Red Wing Shoes

If you need a work boots, please go over the link I shared above and put as much LP as you want. For me, I won't even think of putting my lifestyle boots exposed to harsh condition since they are not built for it anyway.